Richard Boyd Barrett: Demands release of Ned Connors prison report
Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to raise with the Minister for Justice the unpublished prison inspector's report into the death of Ned Connors four years ago. He told the Dail that the family are concerned the inquest should not proceed until the inspector's report is published.
Richard Boyd Barrett opened by welcoming Northside Home Care Services workers in the gallery and asked the Taoiseach to query the Minister for Justice about an outstanding report into Ned Connors' death in custody. He said Mr Connors died of alcohol poisoning and that a prison inspector's report into the circumstances has not been published.
Boyd Barrett relayed that the deceased's family's solicitors have argued the inquest should not go ahead until the prison inspector's report is made public. He said the continued withholding of the report is fueling deep concern in the family.
The Taoiseach indicated he would check with the Minister for Justice and noted uncertainty about the background or reasons for any delay. Boyd Barrett urged clarity and transparency from the Minister to ensure the family and the public have access to the findings before any inquest proceeds.
The exchange highlights questions about transparency in the Department of Justice and accountability in deaths in custody. Boyd Barrett framed the request as a basic demand for answers on behalf of the family and for the integrity of the inquest process.
What was raised
Richard Boyd Barrett opened by welcoming Northside Home Care Services workers in the gallery and asked the Taoiseach to query the Minister for Justice about an outstanding report into Ned Connors' death in custody. He said Mr Connors died of alcohol poisoning and that a prison inspector's report into the circumstances has not been published.
Family concerns
Boyd Barrett relayed that the deceased's family's solicitors have argued the inquest should not go ahead until the prison inspector's report is made public. He said the continued withholding of the report is fueling deep concern in the family.
Government response and next steps
The Taoiseach indicated he would check with the Minister for Justice and noted uncertainty about the background or reasons for any delay. Boyd Barrett urged clarity and transparency from the Minister to ensure the family and the public have access to the findings before any inquest proceeds.
Context and significance
The exchange highlights questions about transparency in the Department of Justice and accountability in deaths in custody. Boyd Barrett framed the request as a basic demand for answers on behalf of the family and for the integrity of the inquest process.
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Transcript
Thanks, Ciann Comhairle. First of all, let me just welcome the Northside Home Care Services workers in the gallery. Deputy Murphy will be raising issues on their behalf, but just to say, I absolutely hope that Taoiseach will listen to the issues he's going to raise on their behalf. I want to raise another issue, Taoiseach, you probably won't know about it, but if you would ask the Minister for Justice. Four years ago, Ned Connors died in prison. He died of alcohol poisoning. How the alcohol got into the prison and so on is a question, but there was supposed to be a report done by the, in fact there was a report done by the prison inspector into the circumstances of his death, but that still has not been published and I think as of today, there was supposed to be an inquest happening. His family's solicitors were saying that inquest shouldn't go ahead until the report, the prison inspector's report was published and apparently the Minister has for some reason prevented the report from being published. Now, and this is fueling deep concern among the family. If you could ask about Ned Connors and the report into his death on behalf of his family, it would be appreciated. Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the issue of Ned Connors who died in prison through alcohol poisoning. That's very disturbing. I think you said apparently the Minister has prevented. I think Minister O'Callaghan is a fair-minded person and he's scrupulous in terms of the application of the law. I don't know what the background to this is. Maybe they don't want to prejudice O'Callaghan. I don't know. I would check with the Minister for Justice in respect of this report and I think the inquest is due, isn't it? I would check with the Minister for Justice in respect of this report and I think the inquiry is due. I would check with the Minister for Justice in respect of this report and I think the inquiry is due.